A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....1-24-06....A Birders' Eye View

GodBlessUSA

[GodBlessUSA]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, Dolly Cali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

One beautiful spring morning shortly after we moved in to our home, my 3-year-old daughter pointed at a bird and said, "Look Mommy." There on the tree was one of the most beautiful birds I'd ever seen--one I had never noticed before. I now know that it was a Redbelly Woodpecker. We were so thrilled to see such a beautiful bird in our yard, we jumped in the car to the store and we bought feeders and food for the birds.

Since that day, backyard birdwatching has been a passion of mine which I have a combined with my passion for gardening. Now my daugher and I garden for the birds, and my yard has become a place for everything from the common, but still beautiful, Robin to rare Warblers, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, and flocks of Chickadees.

I’m not an expert on birds or gardening. I’m always learning. I’d like to share the wonderful facts and stories I have learned in future threads. So many of us love spending time with nature, please share your stories of anything you do that gives you peace and enjoyment. Here are a few pictures from my backyard.

       Redbelly Woodpecker                 Blue Jay

Flicker Woodpecker     CatBird       GoldFinches

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck". Emma Goldman

Recently, my kids and I took a trip to a bird preserve. This is a tranquil place with easy-to-follow trails. Once out of the wooded paths, there's a trail to follow and you reach the beach and have magnificent views.

The truly unique part of this preserve is, the birds will land on the palm of your hand and take seed. You will know when the birds are there because the birds will call to you. Holding a few sunflower seeds and nuts, they love the peanuts in winter, out in your palm and wait for the chickadees to land on your hand and grab the seeds. It's incredible to experience a small delicate Chickadee, Nuthatch or Titmouse picking through seed in your hand. This is a very special place for my kids and me.

Woods Path to Beach                   A View From Beach

Chickadee                                     Downy Woodpecker

Chickadees on my daughter's and son's hand.

Mallard Ducks

A Rabbit and Robin, they think we can't see them. :)

Nuthatch                                     Tufted Titmouse

"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn."    Henry David Thoreau

12-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #14

Click on the photo to view the album. To submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man at danbh59@yahoo.com and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Aqua
How are you? :) It is great that so many share the love for nature and the outdoors. It's a beautiful day here today. A bit chilly, but warm for January, and a bright sunny day. Makes me want to get outside today. :)

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

What a coloful bird. Very pretty.

[MamaTexan]

They really don't have all the knowledge some perceive. It's quite incredible that they are acquiring so much new information from Birders.

Yes, indeed! Thanks to the internet, birders are sending in information that helps to do things like track migration and nesting territories.

Nature and her creatures are extremely interesting and exciting to watch, and every pair of human eyes out there have the potential for new discoveries!

And THAT'S what makes it even MORE interesting!

------------------------------

We now interrupt this post for a shameless, pretty bird pic:

Golden Fronted Woodpecker

(No, I didn't take that pic...but I wish I had. :)

[luvie]

I sure will! She'll think it's wonderful...though she doesn't understand me talking to people on the computer! LOL!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

LOL.

That's funny.

[GodBlessUSA]

I looked at your homepage. It's great. I agree, number one priority is our children. They are always in my prayers. I see pictures of American Soldiers and Iraqi children and it tells such a story to me. I'm so thankful to our Military.

God Bless you for your Military Service.

[Aquamarine]

It's a beautiful day here too after 3 long damp and dreary days. Think I'll join you and go outdoors and enjoy it.

[GodBlessUSA]

You put that so perfectly. It is exciting. When I see a new bird in my yard, I run for that camera so I can try to id the bird. I've had several interesting visitors that I never imagined seeing in my yard. :)

That is a beautiful bird. I had no idea this bird existed. A more colorful version of RedBelly :) You always find such excellent sites.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I'm doing okay. (I should be working.)

[GodBlessUSA]

LOL, I should be up and doing things around here. I'm giving myself a slacker day. ;)

[MamaTexan]

That is a beautiful bird. I had no idea this bird existed. A more colorful version of RedBelly :)

We have a mated pair that nests around the creek-bottom across the road.

Took me forever to figure out what they were. I grew up in south Texas where we always saw Pilated Woodpeckers, but I'd never seen a bird like that.

I've actually got some good pictures of the Golden Fronts and their 2 chicks visiting the feeder from last year....

(sigh)

on a roll of partially taken film still sitting in my camera! :)

[GodBlessUSA]

That is another bird I'd love to see, the Pilated Woodpecker. They do look like a cartoon character or a made up character.

When you do get your film developed, :) I'd love to see those pictures. The backyard quiets down a lot when they are all busy nesting and it's such a joy when they return back to with their juveniles.

[Mama_Bear]

As promised, here are the photos of our baby jays, Precocious and Pretentious. They were constantly on our patio demanding peanuts. At first they had no idea what to do with them and it was hilarious watching them wrestle the things around trying to get the nuts out. Somehow they knew there was something good inside that shell. LOL. When they were very little, we would shell the peanuts and break them into tiny pieces for them, but the parents didn't seem to appreciate us feeding them at all.

You should see these birds now that they are grown up - they are a gorgeous deep blue and gray color. And they still show up for their peanuts. :-)

One of the highlights of our trip to Australia in 2003 was a trip to the Lonepine Sanctuary in Brisbane where we were able to cuddle a koala and feed the roos, wallabies and lorikeets. They are like little tiny parrots, which they are related to. Noisy and very messy eaters. How I would love to see a flock of these beautiful little birds in my backyard!

Australian Rainbow Lorikeets

Great thread today, GeeBee. I can't believe how quickly you learned (yes, Billie is a good teacher!) and how beautifully you presented your birds.

Have a nice day, sistahs and FRiends.

[GodBlessUSA]

Lord, We thank You for those who are serving in our armed forces. Each day they are making brave sacrifices so that our country can remain strong and free. Keep them safe under the shelter of Your wings. And Lord, for their families back home——whose loving support enables our armed forces, to do all that they are called on to do——we ask that You comfort them and give them Your peace...the peace that passes all understanding. Amen

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to

Billie; Dutchess; DollyCali; Mama_Bear; The Mayor; GodBlessUSA,
and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart. Amen

gator girl........................husband severa............husband, brother Maigrey............................cousin mystery-ak.............son, husband Gogrammy...................grandson Inspectorette.......................son deadhead..........................cousin Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..............................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew ValerieUSA....................2 sons Lakeside........................2 sons LakeLady......................nephew Spruce.........................daughter Leofl......................................son chena......................................son Hope and Glory..................son Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece TheMayor...............friends'son Doug from Upland............soninlaw homeschoolmama...........nephew ariamne...................2 cousins mhking.........................cousin gonzo.........................friend's son visualops..........................cousin auboy.............................cousin Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother nelibeli...........................nephew Misty4jc........................husband Colorado Slim................nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews ProudAFDad.........................son Alouette................................son Katydidnt..............................son scubachick.....................husband ladtx...............................2 sons OhioWfan............................son jkphoto..........................nephew Q6-God...................twin brother Q6-God.....................active duty Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut....................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish.........................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty Notwithstanding.......active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty Old Sarge.................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty veeceeque................active duty JRios1968...............active duty NoLongerFreeState....active duty CMS.........................active duty

Its_me_K.E.T.........................son Hostel............................cousin MozartLover...........son, nephew ak_daddoo........................nephew Dubya............................nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son cookcounty.............................son Himyar....................................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin boxerblues........................2 sons the piper....................................son sheeza................................husband kemathen7.........................husband Tiffee4Bob..........................boyfriend JimRobinson...............2 nephews TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Consort........................2 daughters Consort.......................son-in-law Darheel...............................niece Donaeus...........................nephew dixie sass........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband spotbust1............................husband campfollower............................fiance LUV W........................................son painter...................................nephew Bykrbayb........................................son SilentServiceCPOWife........husband Walkenfree................2 grandsons Walkenfree.................. 3 nephews Walkenfree..................granddaughter Zechariah_8_13.......brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13.......................cousin DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law Skimask.....................................son El Gato...............................nephew Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy.....2 nephews Kramster...............................stepson Socratic.............................nephew LoneRedRanger......brother-in-law Jemian...................................son freema....................nephew, son Azbushgal..............................son PreviouslyA-Lurker...........brother kimmykay.................................son right2parent..............................son NavySEAL F-16........................son Ike............................................son repubmom.................................son wolfcreek..........................daughter JesseJane ...........................cousin Roses0508................................son pmmd81....................................son GodBlessUSA........................cousin SoldiersPrayingMom.................son WakeUpandVote..................brother Skyraider.................................son CyberAnt...........................nephew mrs tiggywinkle...................cousin Jen's Mom.....................daughter 911angelady.....................2 Sons Nadine .............................nephew U S Army EOD .......................Daughter weldgophardline .........................Son

[MamaTexan]

Cedar Waxwings are also very vocal.

Each one seems to like to have a personal 'chat' with the sun as it comes up, and the whole flock together can make quite a racket! :)

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Mama_Bear These are fantastic pictures. The Jays sure have personality. I think the Scrub Jays, all the Jays :) are so beautiful.

Wow, what a trip that must have been. What a magnificent experience to be close to wild Lorikeets. You hugged a koala and fed kangaroos. Do you have any pictures of the roos? I want to go. :)

[MamaTexan]

LOL!

Juveniles of any kind always seem to have a rather scruffy look about them.

--------

Gorgeous Lorikeets! Those WOULD be neat to have at the backyard feeder!

The closest we've ever gotten are painted buntings.

A frequent visor to the pond we had before we moved.

Hubby promised to get our new pond put in this year. We've designed a special, shallow center pond that's SURE to become a favorite bathing/drinking spot for them. Painted Buntings can hear the sound of running water from up to 2 miles away! :)

[Mama_Bear]

Do you have any pictures of the roos?

I sure do. I will post a couple as soon as I can locate them.

Yes, our trip to Australia was a dream come true. We went to the Rotary Convention in Brisbane the year that my husband was president of our local Rotary.

I will BRB with a couple of photos....since you asked. ;-)

[luvie]

What adorable blue jays! It's amazing that they still come around. Your collage is beautiful!

[Mama_Bear]

Here you go. These are actually Wallabies, which I found much cuter and more friendly than the Kangaroos.

The Lonepine Sanctuary in Brisbane is about the only place left in the world where you can cuddle koalas. Australia is very strict about how the animals are handled and require that the koalas be exposed to "cuddling" for no more than a few minutes before they are returned to their cages. Being nocturnal, it is a bit of a disruption for them to be cuddled in the middle of the day. Truth be told, they are adorable to look at, but not particularly cuddly. LOL.

This little guy I am holding is named Cecil. :-)